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OUR REGULAR PROGRAM:
LIVING ROOM gatherings are every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 5:00-6:30 pm in Intersections located at 274 Fifth Ave (btw. 29th and 30th Street).
At least once a month we SERVE TOGETHER in the area of fighting poverty, working for social or environmental justice, sustainability, and community service. We also have a FAITH HOUSE TOUR BUS program, as we step out of our comfort zones and into a hospitable space of others to visit, participate, and learn from their services, lectures, rituals, concerts, and other events.
(all programs are free of charge - donations are welcome)
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UPCOMING LIVING ROOM GATHERINGS
(location: Intersections, 274 Fifth Ave, between 29th and 30th)
May 23, Sat 5 pm
The Garden of Union: Ancient Sufi Ceremony of Dhikrullah
In this living room gathering we will delve into the central prayer of the Sufis (mystics of Islam) the dhikrullah or divine remembrance. In this ceremony which is often called the "garden of union"--the rose of the human heart blooms in the experience of God's love.
First, we will examine the symbols and physical actions of the dhikrullah, as well as the spiritual meaning underlying these actions. Flowing from the experience of knowledge to direct experience, we will taste the wine of dhikrullah (witnessing Love directly through the vessels, the names of God) and inshallah become the mirrors upon which God's light can shine.
Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak, the 19th Grand Sheikh of the Halveti-Jerrahi Sufi Order describes dhikrullah:
Lasting between one and three hours, the ceremony of remembrance formulates a microscopic mirror of the reality of existence. The motion of the dhikrullah reflects the revolving of the spheres. In the spiritual dimension the process of centering in Allah and finding Union with Him is described. The ceremony reiterates the stages of Ascent towards being lost in Allah (Arabic: fanafillah) and the stages of Descent to the plane of manifestation, where one remains subsistent in Allah (Arabic: baqabillah). Thus the Path to perfection that the Sufis have vowed to follow is shown in concentrated form in the ceremony of dhikrullah.
This ceremony will be faciliated by Juliet rabia Gentile who is currently a representative of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi order (www.nurashkijerrahi.org), a branch of the ancient Halveti-Jerrahi Sufi order of Turkey, located at the Dergah al-Farah in New York City, studying under her teacher, Shaykha Fariha al-Jerrahi. Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak, the nineteenth sheikh of this conservative Islamic Sufi lineage made the groundbreaking decision to open the door to westerners and women by granting them the permission to act as ritual leaders.
Many members of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi community regularly attend Faith House and we look forward to welcoming everyone for this "instructed" dhikrullah, where we can all share in understanding and experiencing this ancient ceremony together. June 13, Sat 5 pm
The Song of Songs:
A Ritualized Reading of the Sexiest Book in the Bible
 (image: Marc Chagall - Song of Songs IV)The Song of Songs, often attributed to King Solomon (while others
claim it was written by a woman), is one of the most beautiful texts
in the Hebrew Bible. It has been read allegorically for
centuries as representing the relationship between God and Israel or
Christ and his Church. For this Living Room, we will read it ritually,
with selections read out loud, accompanied by stimulation of all five
senses. For a brief introduction, HERE is a column written by Bowie Snodgrass in
2006 for the Washington Window. OUR RELIGION TOUR BUS TRIP
Destination: "Prayer of Remembrance" at Dergah al-FarahOur experience in Living Room on May 23, ("instructed" dhikrullah) will prepare us
for participating in the ceremony with the whole Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Community (www.nurashkijerrahi.org) on Thursday,
May 28th with Shaykha Fariha al-Jerrahi. The evening proceeds in segments until about midnight, with a break around
9:30, when people can come or go. Location: Dergah al-Farah, 245 West Broadway Ave, between Beach and White Streets.
SERVING THE CITY TOGETHER
May 20, Wed 7:30pm - May 21, Thu 8:00am (overnight vigil)
Overnight City Hall Vigil for Housing Justice
 IAHH (Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing) will have its 25th Annual Interfaith Convocation & Overnight City Hall Vigil for Housing Justice. This will be a witness to the personal reality of homelessness in solidarity with those who are homeless and those who work on their behalf. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Samir who will lead our group and has sponsorship forms (also available at the May 9 Living Room event). Faith House is an institutional delegate of IAHH (executive director Marc Greenberg and his team spoke at one of our Living Rooms). Join us on May 20 for a night of learning, compassion, friendship, and dreaming of what people can do together. It is a party where you can get drunk with hope! For the outline of the event and more info you can go to www.iahh.org/vigil.
ORGANIZED BY OUR FRIENDS AT INTERSECTIONS
The Imam and the Pastor
This dynamic event features the reconciliation and the peace-making initiatives which have flowed between Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye. Both led opposing, armed militias, dedicated to defending their respective communities as violence broke out in northern Nigeria. Now the two men are co-directors of the Muslim-Christian Interfaith Mediation Centre, where they lead task-forces to resolve conflicts across Nigeria and are responsible for mediating peace between Christians and Muslims.
Here is how the story goes:
In 1992, violent interreligious conflict broke out. Christians and Muslims fought each other in the marketplace, destroying each other's crops and attacking each other's families. Both the Imam and the Pastor were drawn into the fighting, and both paid a heavy price for their involvement--Imam Ashafa with the loss of two brothers and his teacher, Pastor James with the loss of his hand.
After this event, they each dreamed of revenge against the other. ...
(Let's not run ahead of ourselves here. Come on May 14 and meet two "warriors of God" turned into friends and kind unstoppable peacemakers!)The presentation, free of charge, accompanied by an artistic offering, will be held at West End Collegiate Church on Manhattan's upper west side. 365 West End Ave. Find out more about our friends at Intersections and/or register for the event HERE. | |
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needs are by filling out a short questionnaire. Many thanks to those of you who have already responded!_________________________________________________________________ |
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DONATE
Make a tax-deductible contribution online (through AMM website) or by sending a check to P.O. Box 552, New York, NY 10028.
THANK YOU! |
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